Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 19, 2023achingly.xyz ("we," "us," or "our") prioritizes protecting your personal information as you cultivate crops, raise animals, and build a thriving rural community in our cozy farming simulation games and related services (the "Services") at achingly.xyz. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data. By accessing or using the Services, you consent to the practices described herein. Information We Collect Personal Information: During account registration, we collect your email address, username, password (encrypted), age range, and preferred farming style (e.g., crop-focused, animal care, community building). For premium subscriptions (e.g., ad-free gameplay, exclusive farm customization) or in-game purchases (e.g., seeds, tools, decor), we collect payment details (processed by third-party providers like PayPal) and billing address. Optional information (e.g., favorite crops/animals) may be collected if you choose to share it. Farming and Gameplay Data: We automatically gather data about your interaction with the Services, including IP address, device type, operating system, browser version, farm progress (e.g., crop growth stages, animal health, building unlocks), in-game economy transactions (e.g., selling produce, trading with neighbors), and community interaction data (e.g., visiting other farms, gifting items). This data is collected via cookies, in-game analytics tools (e.g., Unity Analytics), and server logs. Social Data: If you join farm co-ops, participate in community events, or chat with neighbors, we collect your communications (e.g., chat logs, co-op messages) to moderate content and facilitate social interactions. If you link social media accounts, we may access limited information (e.g., display name) to enable features like friend invites. How We Use Your Information To create and manage your account, track your farm’s progress, and sync data across devices. To process transactions, fulfill orders, and send purchase confirmations or subscription reminders. To personalize your experience: recommend crops/animals based on your playstyle, match you with compatible co-ops, and tailor community events to your farm’s needs. To improve the Services: analyze farming data to balance crop growth rates, fix bugs, optimize animal care mechanics, and develop new content (e.g., seasonal events, farm expansions) aligned with user behavior. To communicate with you: send account updates, harvest reminders, seasonal event notifications, and promotional offers (you can opt out of marketing communications at any time). To moderate community interactions: ensure compliance with our community guidelines, prevent harassment, and maintain a friendly farming environment. Information Disclosure We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We may disclose your information in the following circumstances: To trusted third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, cloud hosting services, analytics tools) who assist in operating the Services, subject to confidentiality agreements. To co-op members or neighbors (limited to your username and farm name) to facilitate trading and social interactions. To law enforcement or regulatory authorities if required by law, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public. In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new owner, with prior notice and a commitment to uphold this Privacy Policy. Data Security We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information and farm data, including encryption of sensitive data, secure server storage (compliant with SOC 2 standards), regular security audits, and access controls for authorized personnel. We also secure in-game trades with anti-fraud systems to prevent scams. Your Rights Access and Correction: You may access, review, and update your personal information by logging into your account or contacting [email protected]. Deletion: You may request account deletion by submitting a request to [email protected]. We will delete your data within 30 days, except as required by law (e.g., financial records) or to resolve disputes. Co-op-related data may be retained for moderation purposes. Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from marketing emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our messages or updating your account preferences. Cookie Management: You can adjust cookie settings in your browser, though disabling certain cookies may limit functionality (e.g., farm progress sync, co-op invites). Children’s Privacy Our Services are suitable for ages 8 and up, but we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information without consent, please contact us to request deletion. We may require verification of guardianship before processing such requests. Changes to This Policy We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of changes by posting the revised policy on our website with a new effective date. Your continued use of the Services after the update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Contact Us For questions or concerns, contact:achingly.xyz234 Harvest Road, Ames, IA 50010, USAEmail: [email protected]